Understanding How Anxiety Affects Relationships
Relationships are feedback loops: we shape each other, for better and for worse, often without realizing we’re doing it. That’s the magic, and the risk, of loving someone up close. And when the relationship gets an uninvited third roommate: anxiety, it impacts the relationship too. Anxiety is often described as “worry,” but in real life,…
What is Triangulation and Why Is It Unhealthy for Your Relationships?
There’s a subtle—and sometimes sinister—pattern that can quietly corrode your relationships from the inside out. It doesn’t announce itself with sirens or flashing lights. It’s sneakier than that. It wears the mask of concern, venting, or even support. But underneath? It can be drama-fueled dysfunction. It’s called triangulation, and chances are, it’s happened in your…
Divorce Is Not Always Bad for Kids
Why ending an unhealthy marriage can sometimes serve children better than staying together Rethinking “Staying for the Kids” Ask any parent who is tiptoeing around the D‑word, and the first anxious thought tends to be the same: Is divorce bad for children? That question dominates Google searches because American culture still treats marriage as an…
Why Play Is So Important in Relationships
When I introduce myself as a Chicago Therapist, most people picture worksheets and weighted blankets. Yet the secret sauce I slip into nearly every session is play. The quickest antidote to relationship anxiety and the most dependable spark for long‑term connection is cultivating playfulness in relationships. And no, that prescription isn’t just for kids—mounting…
Why You Should Stop Searching for a Partner to Make You Happy
Let’s just get this out of the way: if your idea of a perfect relationship is someone swooping in to complete you like the final piece in a jigsaw puzzle, I have good news and bad news. The good news? You’re not alone. The bad news? You’re also wrong. As an individual therapist and relationship…